Tuesday, 19 August - Oh, word up

August 19, 2025

Good morning, it’s Tuesday, 19 August. In your Squiz Today…

  • Qantas cops a record fine

  • Zelensky meets with Trump at the White House

  • And the dictionary gets a glow-up…

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Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

"He never lost that absolute passion for cinema.”

Said Margaret Pomeranz, the long-time film reviewing partner of David Stratton, as she looked back yesterday on their relationship and loyalty to each other following his death at 85yo last week. You can read her full remembrance here - 5 stars, Margaret…

Qantas cops a record whack

The Squiz

Federal Court Justice Michael Lee has told the airline to fork out $90 million for illegally sacking over 1,800 workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. $50 million of that will go to the Transport Workers Union (TWU) which brought the case to the courts, and the other $40 million may be split amongst the workers who were sacked - there’ll be another hearing on that later in the year. It’s the biggest fine the Federal Court has ever handed down for breaching the Fair Work Act. 

Remind me what this is about?

This goes back to the COVID-19 pandemic, when Qantas sacked the workers - mostly airline ground staff - but told them their jobs were being outsourced. The TWU called foul over that and brought the airline to court, accusing it of using the outsourcing excuse in an attempt to head off industrial action. The Federal Court agreed with that in July 2021, and after an unsuccessful appeal, Qantas tried its luck with the High Court, but it upheld the original decision. Last year, Qantas agreed to pay $120 million in compensation to the affected workers - who were not reinstated - so yesterday’s fine brings the grand total to $210 million. Justice Lee said carving out $50 million for the TWU would encourage other unions to bring similar cases. 

And what did he have to say about Qantas?

Lee didn’t hold back on the airline’s decision-making - he said “to deprive someone of work illegally is to deprive someone of an aspect of their human dignity”. He criticised Qantas for a range of things, including still using the term Spirit of Australia in its marketing despite the illegal sackings, failing to properly consider his initial decision before announcing the intention to appeal, and not calling the current CEO Vanessa Hudson as a witness during the trial. Yesterday, Hudson apologised to all the staff involved and said the decision “caused genuine hardship for many of our former team and their families”. But the outcome didn’t cause the company too much turbulence in the stock market - shares in the flying kangaroo bounced around before finishing slightly lower at the end of the day.

Smiling wide

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Squiz the Rest

Second time’s the charm

As we hit publish, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is still at the White House after his “very good” talks with US President Donald Trump over Russia’s war in Ukraine. We’ll point you here for a full rundown, but one of the big takeaways is that it’s been friendlier than Zelensky’s last White House visit… The Ukrainian leader - this time wearing a black jacket but no tie - met with Trump separately before they were joined by European leaders. As for the details, Trump confirmed the US would provide security guarantees for Ukraine and indicated that Russia would accept them. It's not yet clear what was discussed in terms of land, but Trump is now aiming to get Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin together to strike a deal for "lasting peace". To that end, he plans to phone Putin after things wrap up...  

And turning now to the war in Gaza…

Hamas has agreed to a ceasefire proposal that involves releasing the remaining Israeli hostages in 2 stages over a 60-day pause in fighting. Not much else is known about the plan, but it’s said to be based on the one drawn up by the US in June. Local pressure over the fate of the hostages has been building on Netanyahu, with huge protests held across Tel Aviv on the weekend… Meanwhile, our diplomatic ties with Israel have taken a chilly turn. Following the Albanese Government’s decision to revoke the visa of far-right Israeli politician Simcha Rothman, Israel has done some revoking of its own - cancelling the visas of our representatives to the Palestinian Authority, which it says is in response to our government’s intention to recognise Palestinian statehood. Foreign Minister Penny Wong called the move an “unjustified reaction”. 

The economy takes centre stage

We’ve been talking about it for days/weeks/months, and the moment’s finally here… The Albanese Government’s economic roundtable begins in Canberra today. If you need a quick summary, Treasurer Jim Chalmers is bringing together business, union and industry leaders to brainstorm ways to boost our economy. We’ve already had a bit of a peek behind the curtain in terms of what’s on the agenda - you can read about that here. Productivity Commission Chair Danielle Wood has had a bit to say in the lead up about our lagging productivity rate - a big issue for our economy. Yesterday, she told the National Press Club that “the only way to sustainably lift wages and opportunities over time”, particularly for young Aussies, is to boost productivity. We’ll see what ideas come out of the summit to do that…

Vale Terence Stamp

The actor famous for his work in films like Superman and Wall Street has died at 87yo. Born in London, Stamp picked up an Oscar nom for his first ever role in the British drama Billy Budd, and though he worked steadily following that, it was his role as the primary villain General Zod in 1980s Superman II that made him a big star, though Aussies may know him best for playing Bernadette in 1994 comedy The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. For one of his best performances that is maybe a bit off-Broadway, try the 1999 Steven Soderbergh crime film The Limey, where he plays a lifelong criminal investigating the death of his daughter. For this monologue alone (language warning), it’s worth a watch… 

The dictionary gets a glow-up

The Cambridge Dictionary has shared some of its newly-added words, and they’ve got a very Gen Z/internet culture flavour to them… ‘Skibidi’ is the one grabbing the most headlines, and while it originates from this viral animated ‘Skibidi Toilet’ video, it’s now defined as “a word that can have different meanings, such as ‘cool’ or ‘bad’, or can be used with no real meaning as a joke”. So if you’re thinking “what the skibidi?”, you’re using it right… As for other additions, ‘delulu’ (aka delusional - and famously/infamously used by our PM) and ‘tradwife’ (referring to socially conservative influencers) also made the cut. And far from being flashes in the pan, Cambridge Dictionary’s Colin McIntosh says "internet culture is changing the English language” and they “only add words where we think they’ll have staying power”. No cap…

Apropos of Nothing

It was a big day for our men’s basketballers yesterday with a thrilling 90-89 win over China to take out the FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. That makes it 3 on the bounce for the Boomers - so at least one kangaroo-themed team had a good day yesterday… 

There could be a big change on the way for the Oscars, with reports yesterday saying that YouTube is throwing its big red button in the ring to be the host broadcaster for the ceremony from 2029 onwards. Welcome to the Oscars, please like and subscribe… 

It’s Book Week, so it’s a good time to return that library book you’ve been holding onto for a while - unless you’ve been holding onto it for 82 years, like this family in Oregon that’s just got around to returning a book borrowed in 1943. Eighty years, maybe, but 82 is pushing it…

Squiz the Day

Tasmanian parliament resumes following last month’s snap election, with Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff set to remain in government after the Greens yesterday said they won’t support Labor leader Dean Winter’s planned motion of no confidence - Hobart

8.00am (AEST) - The Albanese Government’s Economic Reform Roundtable begins (until 21 August) - Canberra 

8.00am (AEST) - Federal Education Minister Jason Clare will give the keynote at the Higher Education Summit 2025, hosted by the Financial Review Live - Sydney

9.00am (AEST) - The cases of Tanika Bromley and James Wood, accused of murdering 17yo Pheobe Bishop, will return to court - Bundaberg

9.00am (AEST) - The National Small Business Summit is on in Melbourne

🦷 10.30am (AEST) - Australian Antarctic doctors undertake dental training in Tasmania for the first time in 70 years (because dental hygiene matters no matter where you are) - Hobart

12.30pm (AEST) - Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy will outline the government’s plans to strengthen our defence industry and secure jobs in an address to the Queensland Media Club - Brisbane

2.30pm (AEST) - Cricket: Australia v South Africa in the first of 3 ODIs - Cairns, watch on Kayo

7.00pm (AEST) - It’s farewell to Lynne McGranger’s character of Irene on Home and Away after 33 years - catch it on 7Plus (and have the tissues handy)

BHP, Transurban and CSL will deliver their FY2025 results, while Woodside will announce half-year results

ABS data release - Livestock products, Australia, June 2025

Afghanistan’s Independence Day

International Orangutan Day

Birthdays for former US President Bill Clinton (1946) and Aussie singer Missy Higgins (1983)

Anniversary of:

  • Coco Chanel’s birthday (1883)

  • Soviet satellite Korabl-Sputnik 2 carrying 2 dogs, 2 rats, 40 mice, one rabbit and fruit flies into orbit (1960)

  • The Beatles’ All You Need is Love hitting #1 (1967)

  • the release of Lady Gaga’s record-breaking debut album The Fame (2008)